Lens: congenital cataract: practice question

A Ophthalmology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Ophthalmology · Lens: congenital cataract

Sample item

A 6-week-old infant has a dense white pupillary reflex in the right eye with no red reflex. When should surgery ideally be performed to give the best visual outcome?

AAs early as possible, ideally within the first 6 to 8 weeks of lifeBOnly after the age of 12, when the child can consentCNever, because it will clear spontaneouslyDAt 5 years, when the eye is fully grown

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. As early as possible, ideally within the first 6 to 8 weeks of life

A dense unilateral visual-axis cataract blocks form vision during the critical period of visual development, causing deprivation amblyopia. Early surgery, ideally by 6 to 8 weeks for unilateral cases and within 10 weeks for bilateral cases, followed by optical correction and occlusion therapy, gives the best visual outcome.

Option by option

A. As early as possible, ideally within the first 6 to 8 weeks of life (correct)
Correct. Early removal prevents irreversible deprivation amblyopia.
B. Only after the age of 12, when the child can consent
Delaying until adolescence is too late for visual development.
C. Never, because it will clear spontaneously
Dense congenital cataracts do not clear and cause blindness if untreated.
D. At 5 years, when the eye is fully grown
Waiting for years leads to permanent amblyopia.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is A, As early as possible, ideally within the first 6 to 8 weeks of life. A dense unilateral visual-axis cataract blocks form vision during the critical period of visual development, causing deprivation amblyopia.

Why is "Only after the age of 12, when the child can consent" not the answer?

Delaying until adolescence is too late for visual development.

Why is "Never, because it will clear spontaneously" not the answer?

Dense congenital cataracts do not clear and cause blindness if untreated.

Why is "At 5 years, when the eye is fully grown" not the answer?

Waiting for years leads to permanent amblyopia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lens: congenital cataract in Ophthalmology. Early surgery, ideally by 6 to 8 weeks for unilateral cases and within 10 weeks for bilateral cases, followed by optical correction and occlusion therapy, gives the best visual outcome.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Lens: congenital cataract?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.